The return of dumped test opener Aaron Redmond will boost Otago's chances in the State Championship match against Auckland starting at the Eden Park outer oval today.
Redmond has replaced teenager Hamish Rutherford, who made his first-class debut for Otago earlier this summer.
There is one other change, with the experienced Warren McSkimming replacing Neil Wagner, who has returned to South Africa for his brother's wedding. Redmond made his test debut for the Black Caps this year but has been dropped from the team for the West Indies series.
He was in top form in the second test against Australia at Adelaide but gave his wicket away with a rash shot against spinner Nathan Hauritz when he was on 83.
Redmond will get his chance for a long innings on an easy-paced batting pitch that has been produced by former Carisbrook groundsman Mark Perham.
The other key player in the Otago team is captain Craig Cumming, another former Black Cap, who scored his 12th first-class century when he made 133 against Central Districts at McLean Park last week.
Cumming has been in fine touch this summer and has scored 252 runs at an average of 50.40 in his five innings.
The other Otago batsman expected to make his mark is Neil Broom who is averaging 68.75. He has scored 275 runs with a top score of 140 not out.
The Volts started the season steadily by gaining first-innings points against Northern Districts and Canterbury.
But the bowling proved the Achilles heel when Otago was beaten outright by Central Districts, which has bolted away from the field with three outright wins.
The Otago bowling attack will be stiffened by the return of experienced medium-pacer McSkimming, who has not played for Otago this season after injuring his calf muscle in a pre-season match.
Wagner, Otago's most successful bowler in the first three games, has taken 12 wickets.
Offspinner Nathan McCullum has been the workhorse at the bowling crease and has taken nine wickets off his 142.3 overs.
Otago was the only team to go through the championship campaign unbeaten last year and took pride from battling back from some precarious positions to keep its record intact.
But the province finished only in fourth place, three points behind Auckland, which was beaten outright on three occasions, and eight points behind Canterbury, which also tasted defeat.
Otago has the batting strength to avoid defeat against Auckland but may struggle to dismiss Auckland twice on the placid Eden Park pitch.
Scott Styris returns from injury and Steven Croft comes back from a rest for Auckland.
Styris has overcome a back problem while English import Croft was rested from the match against West Indies, making way for local talent to play an international fixture.
Otago v Auckland
Auckland, today
Otago: Craig Cumming (captain), Warren McSkimming, Neil Broom, James, McMillan, Greg Todd, Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder, Mat Harvie, Ian Butler, Shaun Haig, Aaron Redmond.
Auckland: Martin Guptill, Richard Jones (captain), Reece Young, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Steven Croft, Colin de Grandhomme, Tarun Nethula, Daryl Tuffey, Chris Martin, Michael Bates, Andy McKay, Lance Shaw.
